The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 03, 1997
Stan H McClosky, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Fanuc Robotics North America, Inc., Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A robot wrist and spray head applicator assembly (10) comprising a base (18) presenting an arm axis (A) and supported on a robot arm (16). A housing (22) is supported by the base (18) for rotation about the arm axis (A). A tool support member (30) has a tool axis (B) and is rotatably supported by the housing (22) for rotation about a transverse axis (C) which is disposed at an acute angle relative to the arm axis (A) for movement between a straight ahead position in which the tool axis (B) is generally parallel to the arm axis (A) and a transverse position in which the tool axis (B) is transverse to the arm axis (A). A spray head (38, 38') is rotatably supported by the tool support member (30) for rotation about the tool axis (B) and the spray head (38, 38') and includes a needle valve (44) movable between open and closed positions for controlling flow. The assembly is characterized by a motion transmitting core element (46) extending from the base (18) for rectilinear movement for moving the needle valve (44) with the core element (46) being flexible for bending through a curved path between the base (18) and the spray head (38, 38') as the housing (22) and/or the tool support member (30) are rotated relative to the base (18) and as the spray head (38, 38') rotates. In addition, the core element (46) is connected to a piston (56) supported by a fluid coupling member (54). The fluid coupling member (54) presents a fluid inlet (60) for actuating the piston (56), a paint connection (68) for receiving paint and an air inlet (76) for receiving spraying air and a bracket (86) supports the coupling member (54) on the robot arm (16) in spaced relationship to the base (18).